Metatarsalgia is sharp pain in the area of the ball of the foot, which is given its shape by the rounded ends of the metatarsal bones. The pain can feel like a person is stepping on a stone and is usually eased by sitting down and worsened by walking barefoot.
Your doctor also can refer you to a massage therapist, which may not only lead you to a qualified professional, but also help you qualify for reimbursement if your insurance policy covers massage treatments. Massage is not medicine. Itâs a complement to your doctor-prescribed arthritis treatment.
1 Massage may help with pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee, according to a 2012 NCCIH-funded study.  Studies suggest that for women in labor, massage provided some pain relief and increased their satisfaction with other forms of pain relief, but the evidence isn't strong, a 2012 review concluded.